NOEL ELLIS' GOOGLE BLOG

  ANOTHER GOOD CHAP FADES AWAY   LT COL NOEL ELLIS   29/I/2023   A name which sounded so bombastic was Capt Naresh Nagesh Kadam. He was in Kamptee when this pip squeak reported to the Unit in Jaisalmer in June 1985. His reputation preceded him. Officers and men alike were scared of this towering personality who also was a stickler for details, a hard task master and an upright person.   He was the pioneer Adjutant of 17 Mech (Recce & Sp). The then Subedar Adjutant Mukhtiar Singh would tell us stories of him. “Saab JCO sahiban ko belt se utha dete hain galti karne par’. One formed an image in the mind of such a huge burly fellow. He was a no-nonsense man and called a brick a brick. The day he returned from a course, it was face to face. He looked like a terror alright. He never smiled & hardly spoke. We youngsters maintained a safe distance from the Adjutant’s office.   The only saving grace was he was a shade darker than me. One good thing was he smoked like

  NASTURTIUM   LT COL NOEL ELLIS   27/I/2023   It’s been a desire to grow “Nasturtium” flowers in our garden. The pronunciation is very different for how it is spelt. For a lay person like me it is Nas-tay-shun. How the British got on to this, I will keep for another day. Today, we welcome them to Ellis' Garden.   It was about five decades back when it was the first time I had seen this flower in Ellis ‘senior’s’ garden. His passion and green fingers could grow even a dead twig. Those days flower seeds were not commonly available. Seeds were preserved after each flowering season. Relatives and friends were more than happy to share them.   For Dad, it always was a special request to friends going abroad to get seeds. In those days, getting seeds and bulbs was not difficult, nor were there such strict restrictions on carrying them. Anyone asking Dad as to what they should get when they returned from ‘foreign’, his answer used to be seeds/bulbs/fishing hooks and li

 

  HAPPY VETERANS DAY   LT COL NOEL ELLIS   15/I/2023   It was Veterans Day yesterday. May I wish each and every one from our fraternity good luck, good health, good spirits, and God Speed always.   Let me start by a disclaimer. I write this with no malice to anyone. You may agree, disagree or be indifferent to my views, but let me pen them for all those who can read between the lines and may relate to what I say. I am a very happy person by nature and always look at positives. So here goes.   Yesterday, I had the proud privilege to being invited to the Veteran Days function in the Army Cantonment. Believe you me, I was bubbling with excitement. Lots of preparations went in. My wife almost told me to get out of the house.   Where is my side cap & miniature medals? Why has the Cherry blossom gone dry? Why is the Brasso so liquidy etc. Finally, where is some abbreviation given as the venue to attend the function located. Thank God my course mate saved me from e

                      CHAOS IN 2023 LT COL NOEL ELLIS   11/I/2023   It has been ages since Pakistan came to my mind. It was on purpose that it was kept out of mind for obvious reasons and its dubious nature.   Gen Bajwa was on his way out a month or so back. Rumours were hot that we would be seeing another silent take over by the Military. Not that it isn’t well known that Pakistan is already administered by the army, if not overtly but covertly. PMs come and go makes no difference to the legacy. The new Army Chief has a finger on his lip and a ‘purdah’ on his appearances. Kismet ho to Asim Munir jaisi ho.   TTP is ‘thokoing’ the Pakistani forces left, right and centre. Baluchis should have joined hands with them for sure. The ‘good’ and ‘bad’ venomous snakes they had been feeding in their backyard are now biting them at will, in their territory and care two hoots for the uniformed. Even one of their Corps Commander’s house was under siege recently.   What if the

  HAPPY REST OF 2023   LT COL NOEL ELLIS   08/I/2023   From the week before Christmas to the week after the New Year had been hectic, busy, eventful, demanding, tiring but satisfying. This was the first Christmas spent in your own home.   Last year, the house was under renovation, though still we had barged in, but this year all had settled. No leaky taps, no squeaky doors, generally aware of switches, as one tends to switch on the fan instead of the light. Even the taps, which spewed hot or cold water, got under control.   The only chaos was to locate things which were stuffed randomly somewhere. As usual Mr Murphy would hide them in the last drawer to keep you busy. Never mind!   Winters are serious stuff in the Sun City. Thank God there is no fog. From the fog of war to the real fog has been a transformation, a journey which saw its ups and downs but we kept our heads high and sailed through the troubled and calm waters gracefully and we thank the Lord for his blessings.   From a sc

 Welcoming the new year with these  ❤️ 🧡 💛 💚 Dil Khush 🤎 🖤 💜 💙 Flowers  from the ELLIS' garden